Case History

People v. Martinez-Luna

My client was charged with CHILD MOLESTATION. His two nieces accused my client of molesting them over a period of several years. He was charged with multiple counts of violating Penal Code sections 288(a) and 288(c)(1). My client denied the allegations when he testified. There were also several witnesses who testified that they didn’t see any conduct suggesting my client was molesting the girls. The two nieces testified and it was obvious under my cross-examination that they were not telling the truth. The jury obviously agreed that my client did not molest them. The result was 12 NOT GUILTY OF CHILD MOLESTATION VERDICTS rendered by the jury for the charged counts and all the lesser included charges.

People V. Jarrett

Defendant was charged with POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS. Police arrest the defendant in his truck, the truck is searched and the cocaine is found under the front seat of his truck. The defendant says that the cocaine is not his. Cross examination of the arresting officer reveals the presence of a female prostitute in the truck who was never mentioned in the police report. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS.

People V. Parada

Defendant charged with FELONY MURDER and DRIVING A STOLEN CAR. Defendant driving a stolen van with several others inside leads police on a high speed chase. Defendant runs numerous stop lights at high speed on Beach Boulevard. Defendant loses control of the van and crashes into a pole and a cement block wall. The van rolls and the roof caves in crushing the skull of a passenger causing his death. The entire chase and accident are on patrol car video. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF MURDER.

People V. Aruda

Defendant charged with RAPE BY INTOXICATION WITH A PRIOR STRIKE CONVICTION FOR ROBBERY. Defendant found in bed with a 15 year old girl, by victim’s father, both are intoxicated. Victim tells police that she had sex with the defendant. Police forensic evidence includes defendant’s pubic hair found inside victim’s vagina and victim’s DNA found on defendant’s penis. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF RAPE BY INTOXICATION.

People V. Maae

Defendant charged with FELON IN POSSESSION OF A GUN. Defendant stopped by police at the location of a disturbance. Defendant’s vehicle is searched and a gun is found under the seat. Defendant was previously convicted of a felony, but says that it is not his gun. It was left there by someone else. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF FELON IN POSSESSION OF A GUN.

People V. Richardson

Defendant charged with POSSESSION OF A WEAPON IN A JAIL OR PRISON. Defendant who is a former professional football player who started on the Chicago Bears Super Bowl winning team was in custody in Orange County Jail. While he was being moved within the jail a sack carrying his belongings was searched. The search produced a home-made weapon. The defendant said that he was unaware of the weapon that was found in his sack, someone else must have put it there. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF POSSESSION OF A WEAPON IN A JAIL OR PRISON.

People V. Brown

Defendant charged with ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON. Defendant was in a bar in Newport Beach. Defendant was waiting to play pool. A dispute arose over who was going to play the next game. The defendant stabbed the alleged victim in the neck with a broken beer glass causing a 5 inch cut on his neck resulting in the victim going to the hospital for stitches leaving a scar on his neck. The defendant said that he feared the victim was going to attack him so he used the beer glass in self-defense. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.

People V. Canales

Defendant charged with ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON WITH FOUR PRIOR STRIKE CONVICTIONS AND THREE SERIOUS FIVE YEAR FELONY PRIORS.

Defendant charged with assaulting the alleged victim at a construction site by kicking him in the head which resulted in the victim receiving a concussion and being hospitalized. The victim also filed a civil case which resulted in a settlement of $140,000. The defendant said that the victim was getting ready to attack a third party. The defendant struck the victim in order to defend the third party even though the victim never actually struck the third party, and no other witnesses saw the victim targeting the third party. Defendant was facing a minimum of 40 years to life in prison. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.

People V. Norwood

Defendant charged with two counts of CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Defendant was charged with two counts of child endangerment for leaving her 7 year old son and her 11 month old granddaughter in her car unattended. The police alleged that the defendant left her son and granddaughter unattended in her car for more than a half hour while she went shopping on a warm day in August. A passerby called the police. When the defendant eventually returned she was arrested a charged with two counts of child endangerment. Jury verdict of 8 to 4 for NOT GUILTY, CHARGES DISMISSED.

People V. Greene

Defendant charged with POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. Police receive a tip from a computer repair person that the defendant has child pornography on his computer at home. The police come to his home and the defendant consents to a search of his computer. The search yields 200 pictures of child pornography. The defendant stated that he was unaware that there were any pictures of child pornography on his computer. The computer expert we hired was able to demonstrate that the defendant did not know these images were on his computer. The case was DISMISSED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

People V. Benitez

Defendant charged with CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA. Police receive a tip from a private security at an apartment complex. A five foot tall marijuana plant is visible on the defendant’s balcony. The police officer goes to the door and contacts the defendant. Defendant admits there is a five foot tall marijuana plant on the balcony of his apartment and the lease is in his name. Police officer enters and seizes the plant. Defendant makes statements to the officer that the plant is his. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA AND NOT GUILTY OF POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

People V. Kirby

Defendant charged with DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WITH 2 PRIOR CONVICTIONS. Victim of a hit and run calls police and says he is following a car that has just run into him at a stop light. Victim follows car to an apartment complex. Victim and his wife watch as the driver parks the car and gets out. Both later identify the defendant as the driver. Defendant later fails field sobriety tests as the result of ingestion of drugs. Defendant had just been released from jail after being arrested the day before for driving under the influence of the same type of drugs. Defendant arrested in that case when he wrecks his truck by crashing into a pole while making a left turn. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WITH 2 PRIOR CONVICTIONS.

People V. Montez

Defendant charged with DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. Defendant arrested at the scene of an automobile accident. Police officer conducts field sobriety tests which the defendant fails. Defendant submits to a chemical test which result is .10%. Jury verdict of NOT GUILTY OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.